Review: Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow

I haven't been buying much new makeup recently, mainly just a couple of repurchases. However, I am a sucker for a bronze eyeshadow. I have plenty in powder form but I quite like working with creams so I thought I would give the Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Bronze a go. I have heard mixed reviews about these cream eyeshadows so I was quite curious to see how I got on with it. There are six shades but this is the only one that appealed to me.

The texture of this is quite dissimilar to other cream eyeshadows that I have tried. It is super pigmented + soft so you can easily pick up too much product/color. It is almost more similar to a mousse or jelly texture. Because it is really soft, it is incredibly easy to blend. As it is quite a wet product, I like to use this with eyeshadow brushes rather than with my fingers which can be a bit messy. I have been wearing this all over the lid + in the outer part of the crease with liquid liner. I find that warm, brown shimmer eyeshadows tend to look darker in the crease anyway so there is no need for another eyeshadow. I like the shade of this one but I would like more if it were a little more red in tone. Just a little bit. I still really like this + would recommend it if you want an affordable cream eyeshadow.

PS: Don't be put off by the name, it's not excessively shimmery...

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Recent Favorites 11.24.14

Oh hi everyone, fancy seeing you around here. What's new with you? Great, great. Okay so I have some random favorites I feel like sharing with you. I have a couple of Burt's Bees bits that I got from the #BeeMerry event thing that my homegirl Meg was doing at a pop up store in LDN town. Just a quick disclaimer in case any of you try to sue me etc.

Burt's Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream
I believe Meg mentioned this was one of her favorite products by Burt's Bees + let me tell you... it smells so good. I keep this next to my bed + I 'apply it generously' before going to bed. Not only doing it smell really good but it does a good job of reviving dead winter hands.

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
This is my perfect perfume + I would probably say it's my 'signature scent' because I wear it all the time. Every time I wear this someone will ask about it. The best thing about it is the fact that it stays on all day so the scent doesn't start to disappear after an hour or so like most perfumes. If you like warm, slightly masculine scents then give this a little sniff.

Skandihome Love Birds Coasters
I love these coasters, yes they are nice to use as actual coasters but I think they look pretty to display jewelry on.

Burt's Bees Hydrating Coconut & Pear Lipbalm
I used to really like Burt's Bees lipbalms back in the day but I am now loving this particular one purely because it smells ridiculously good.

Anomie Rings
I am sure I have mentioned before that I love anything from my friend Chelsea's online store (click here) but at the moment I am particularly obsessed with all of the silver rings on the website. I used to be such a gold jewelry girl but I am definitely getting more + more into silver. I don't really buy jewelry unless it's from Anomie or Chelsea Market in New York.

Skandihome Candles
I love a good candle but I often find they burn really annoyingly so half the wax ends up wasted. At the moment I have been burning the Skandihome Sandlewood + Vetiver Candle + not only does it burn really nicely without sticking to the sides, it's an amazing winter smell. However, I now want the Christmas Spices one...

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Recent Favorites 11.5.14

There really is no method to the madness when it comes to blogging for me. I don't have a schedule, I don't really stick to any particular titles... it is just a bit of what I fancy here + then with no real logic behind it. I don't know if I should start doing weekly or monthly favorites or if I should post most regularly... I don't know. I'm talking to myself here but I just looked through my recent posts over the past year + I didn't see any 'favorites' posts even though I used to do them all the time. So I thought I would do one! Wahey - she finally gets to the point.

Essie 'Butler Please'

I am definitely more of a grey/white/neutrals girl when it comes to nail polish (/everything) but there are a couple of bright colors by Essie that I absolutely love including this primary/electric blue shade. I just think it's quite interesting how vibrant it is without actually being a bright turquoise or something. 

L'Oréal Paris Nude Magique Blur Cream

I believe I saw Vivianna mention this in a video + when I interned at L'Oréal in the US this wasn't out (it still isn't out/might never be) so I was intrigued by it but I'm always interested in L'Oréal's new releases. I really like this as a primer because it blurs any imperfections + sits nicely underneath makeup. It also has a bit of a tint so it's an overall great product for perfecting the skin.

Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara

This was recommended to me by a friend + whenever I go back to it I am always surprised by how much volume it gives without any effort. If you like big, black, bold lashes then definitely give this a go. 

Hourglass Blush in Mood Exposure
This is the perfect radiant plum blush for the time of year. Although it is plummy it does have a bit of warm peachiness to it as well so it's great for adding a bit of warmth to the complexion.

Maybelline Coloursens Nude Lipstick in 'Tantalizing Taupe'
My previous post is all about this lipstick so click here to see that!

MAC Lip Liner in 'Boldly Bare'
I love a good nude lip liner + this one is a good'un. I find that MAC lip liners are really matte so they stay on really well + they do a really good range of nudes.

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer
I absolutely love this concealer for under the eyes because it is really light, non-cakey but it provides really good coverage which is great for someone like me who has really bluey tones.

Skandihome
Last but not least is an online London-based Scandinavian store which sells really nice homeware bits (including the rug that all these products are lying on). If you think you have similar taste to me then definitely check it out for some pretty household things. I'm currently eyeing up this tray...  

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A Perfect Nude

Ahem, no I don't mean the perfect nude pic. It was probably only me who thought of that when coming up with the title (it took hours... ). Okay so I've probably said this a million times but I am more of a nude lipstick girl than any other shade. This means that I am very fussy about which nude lipsticks I wear, also because I don't like to have too many lipsticks so I actually only have a few. The lipstick I'm currently obsessed with is the Maybelline Coloursens Nude Lipstick in 'Tantalizing Taupe', which I saw Barbara wearing in a video + I decided I needed it A$AP. I got it on a 3 for 2 deal at Boots - I needed/wanted a dark purple lipstick for Halloween so it was the perfect opportunity to pick this up along with my favorite under eye concealer which will be featured in the next post (although I'm sure y'all can guess if it's Maybelline...).

To be honest, when I first looked at the lipstick in Boots I thought it wouldn't look that great on because I had thought it was a pinky nude but in the tube it looked kind of brown. However, when you put it on it is the perfect pale brown nude with pink tones. I know that sounds almost as ridiculous as 'oh my god this is the perfect reddy coral nude with berry undertones but it is also the perfect dusty pink' but it is the only way I can describe it. In terms of the texture + finish, it is very comfortable to wear + it's neither too glossy nor too matte. I think the lasting power isn't too shabby either but I do wear it with a lip liner. I just love that it is quite pale but not so pale that it looks like concealer lips, because I often find nude lipsticks to look a bit dark on me because I'm pretty pale. Obsessed.

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FOTD 10/23/14

I haven't done a post like this in a while so I thought it would be a good time to show some products I enjoy using. I am trying to use up most of my makeup before buying anything + because I don't own that much of it anymore it is quite easy to see everything I have + rotate it all. Luckily my skin has been good at the moment so I have been able to get away with a lighter coverage if I want to.

For this lewk I used the Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer under the Dr Jart BB Cream + the Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Cream under my eyes. I also filled in my brows with the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil but that's not featured in the photo (oops, my bad). On my eyes I used the Naked 3 Palette, I pretty much just used the shade 'Limit' all over the lid + along the lower lashline with a bit of 'Factory' in the crease + on the outer edges of the lower lashline. I also put a bit of the NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in 'Skorpios' in the centre of the lower lashline for a touch of bronzey goodness. The mascara I used is the L'Oréal Paris Butterfly Mascara in 'Midnight Black', which is really black + gives great length + volume but it also extends the outer lashes which is really flattering. Then on my cheeks I contoured a little bit using the NYX Blush in 'Taupe' + added a bit of color with the Milani Baked Blush in 'Luminoso'. It's quite a shimmery, glowy blush so no highlighter was required.

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